Engines
Governing: STCW Code Table A-VI/2-1; REG Yacht Code Common Annex I1; MCA PSCRB (Restricted) Guidelines, Outcome 2. Builds on: L2.2.
Table A-VI/2-1 requires methods of starting and operating a survival craft engine and its accessories, together with the use of the fire extinguisher provided. The criterion is plain: propulsion is available and maintained as required for manoeuvring. The full course assesses an inboard engine in an open or enclosed lifeboat; the Restricted course, for yachts without davit-launched lifeboats, focuses on the rescue boat engine, inboard and outboard.
What the Code requires weekly
REG Common Annex I1(7), weekly tests:
- All survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances visually inspected for readiness.
- All engines in lifeboats and rescue boats run for a total of not less than 3 minutes, provided ambient temperature allows, demonstrating that the gearbox and gear train engage satisfactorily.
- If an outboard's characteristics would not allow a 3-minute run other than with the propeller submerged, a suitable water supply may be used.
- The general emergency alarm tested.
Log it. An engine that has not been run is an assumption.
Pre-start checks
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| Kill cord fitted and clipped to coxswain | Most common 'won't start' |
| Fuel tank level, vent open, fuel valve open | Starvation or vacuum lock |
| Primer bulb firm (outboards) | Fuel delivered to carburettor or pump |
| Battery isolator on, charge indicator | Cranking power |
| In neutral | Neutral-start interlock |
| Cooling water intake clear | Overheating once running |
| Propeller clear of lines | Fouling at start |
Starting
Outboard (typical): neutral, choke if cold per manufacturer, turn key or pull cord, check tell-tale water stream, warm briefly, choke off.
Inboard diesel (lifeboat): battery on, fuel on, preheat if fitted, start, check oil pressure and cooling, engage gear only when ordered and clear of the falls.
Cold starting follows the manufacturer; the Restricted course criteria list cold starting as a separate skill because it is where people flood engines.
Basic fault-finding
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| No crank | Kill cord, isolator, not in neutral, flat battery | Check each; use pull start if fitted |
| Cranks, won't fire | No fuel, vent shut, flooded | Open vent, prime; if flooded, choke off |
| Starts then dies | Fuel starvation, choke left on | Check vent and bulb, choke off |
| Overheating | Blocked intake | Stop, clear intake |
| Vibration | Fouled or damaged prop | Stop, clear |
The extinguisher
The standard includes using the fire extinguisher provided in the craft. Know where it is, how to aim it at the base of a fuel fire, and that in a small open boat you may be better stopping the engine and fuel than fighting a big fire.
WARNING - Don't fix it on the rescue If the rescue boat will not start within a minute or two during a real man overboard, switch to the backup boat or another means. Diagnose afterwards.
TIP - Rotate the coxswains Make sure every trained crew member starts, runs and stops the rescue boat engine regularly. Knowing the quirks of your particular outboard is worth more than any generic checklist.